Token collection device



Oct. 26, 1965 r. R. sMlTH 3,214,089

TOKEN COLLECTION DEVICE Filed 00'0. 31, 1965 y? www A65/VT United States Patent O 3,214,089 TOKEN COLLECTION DEVICE Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 320,430 Claims. (Cl. 232-15) This invention relates to token collection devices for use with machines adapted for actuation by tokens or coins and specifically to a device for preventing pilferage of the deposited tokens from the collection device.

With the rapidly expanding use of token or coin actuated devices, there has been an increase in the number of enterprises in which the owner does not personally attend to the business or at least does not personally collect the money from the machines but delegates to a route man or -serviceman the responsibility for collecting the token vcollection devices and delivering them to the owner for opening and emptying. It has become, therefore, increasingly important for the owner to prevent theft and Apilferage from the collection devices or coin boxes by his employee.

In a large number of devices presently in use, the coins or tokens pass through a token actuating mechanism and into a collection device which consists primarily of a boxlike container member having an entirely open top. This r container is ordinarily positioned behind a locked panel for preventing theft therefrom. Other devices include containers having covers to prevent coins and tokens from bouncing or being shaken therefrom. These containers are also positioned behind locked panels. Neither of these prior containers or collection devices provide protection against pilferage by a serviceman or route man who may be employed for collecting the token collection devices from the various machines included within his particular territory.

Still other collection devices have a removable panel which is provided with means for locking the panel to the container so that only the owner or other authorized individuals have access to the coins or tokens within the device. Such an arrangement, however, does not prevent -or preclude the possibility of pilferage by other individuals handling the token collection devices since the opening 'provided for allowing coins or tokens to enter the device `may also be used together with proper manipulation of 'the collection device for removing coins or tokens therefrom.

It is`therefore an object of this invention to provide coin collection means having selectively operable closure means for retaining coins or tokens therein.

4It is a further object of this invention to provide token or coin collection means having locking means and selectively operable closure means for preventing pilferage of coins or tokens therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a token collection device for a token actuated machine which is removable therefrom and which includes a token receiving opening having shutter means operative to a closed position responsive to withdrawal of the collection device from the token actuated machine.

It is still a further object ofthe present invention to provide a token actuated machine with a token collection device which includes a lockable access panel and an access opening having a manually presettable shutter means associated therewith operative to a closed position responsive to removal of the collection device from a predetermined position within said actuated machine.

i Theseobjectives are realized in the present invention by providing a token collection device including a removable panel having an opening for permitting entrance of coins or tokens and locking lmeans providing for temporary safekeeping of the coins or tokens within the controlled machine. This removable panel is further provided with a shutter device having an aperture alignable with the opening in the panel to permit entrance of the deposited tokens. This shutter member is maintained in a position aligning the aperture with the opening by a latch member which is actuatable for releasing the shutter member upon withdrawal of the collection device from the controlled machine. The collection device as removed from the machine, therefore, is substantially closed for preventing the undetected removal of tokens or coins therefrom.

Operation of the invention and further objects thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view taken along a substantially vertical plane passing through the center of a collection device including the shutter device of the present invention shown in position in a token or coin actuated machine with the cabinet of the machine shown in fragmentary section;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the container cover removed from the container and showing the shutter device of the present invention with a fragmentary portion thereof shown in section; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the collection device as removed from a token actuated device in a locked and substantially closed condition.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in'detail, a coin or token collection device 10 includes a box-like container member 11 and a removable cover or access member 12 having a closely fitting relationship with container` 11 and an opening 15 formed therein for permitting tokens or coins to enter collection device 10. Opening 15 is positioned below and aligned with coin chute 16 which extends upwardly and cooperates with a .token receiving mechanism (not shown) for directing coins or tokens into collection device 10. Thus coins or tokens are collected within collection device 10 following actuation of the machine by insertion of a token or tokens into the receiver (not shown). It is to be understood that the container may also be in the form of a substantially closed member having a coin or token entrance and means other than a removable cover member for obtaining access to the 1nterior of the container.

Collection device 10 is positioned within a cage-like security enclosure 17 securely attached to an interior surface of cabinet panel 18. This enclosure 17 includes bottom bracket 20 having a flange portion 21 welded to cab1net panel 18, a pair of side members such as bracket 22 also welded to panel 18 and to bracket 20, and channel 25 which extends across the back end and along each side of the cage-like enclosure member 17. Completing the enclosure is cover plate 24 which may be attached to side members 22 to form the top of the cage-like enclosure member 17 and is formed with tabs 23 and hole 26 for cooperating with coin chute 16.

Cabinet` 18 is provided with an access opening 27 through which collection device 10 may be inserted and withdrawn. Covering access opening 27 is lock panel 28 having a lip 29 for interlocking with cabinet 18. Panel V28 is also provided with locking member 30 for securing the panel to cabinet 18 to prevent unauthorized access to collection device 10. A key 31 is shown in dotted lines for indicating that lock panel 28 may be removed by authorized personnel for obtaining access to collection device 10.

Lock member 30 `includes a threaded portion 32 rotatable by key 31 for threaded engagement with shaft 34 which is securely attached to channel member 25. Shaft 34 extends through holes 35 and 36 of container member 11 for locating and securely retaining collection device 10 within the cage-like enclosure 17. Securely attached to container 11 and abutting lock panel 28 is a spring bracket 38 for retaining collection device 10 in a relatively vibration-free condition.

Collection device also includes a lock member 39 having a shaft 40 threadably engageable with stud 41 affixed to container 11 whereby removable cover 12 is securely located on container 11 to prevent access to contents thereof except by persons possessing the proper key for releasing or disengaging lock member 39. The key, of course, should be different from that key required for lock member 30.

Mounted to the underside of removable vmember 12 and thus interiorly to token collection device 10 is an anti-pilferage device 44. Anti-pilferage device 44 includes a shutter member 45 having an aperture 46 selectively alignable With coin chute 16 and with opening in cover member 12. The film-like shutter member 45 is preferably of a polytetrauoroethylene coated fabric material but may also be fabricated of other flexible durable materials. The ends of shutter 'member 45 are attached to pins 48 and 49 which are retained in holes y50 and 51 of rollers 54 and 55 respectively.

vRollers 54 and 55 are supported juxtaposed to the underside of removable cover member 12 and positioned so that a single roller is on opposite sides of opening 15. Roller members 54 and 55 are `mounted on pins 56 and 57 the ends of which are in turn Vjournalled in frame members 60 an'd 61.

Frame members 60 and 61 include a leg portion 62 attached to the removable cover 12 and a second leg 63 formed at substantially a right a-'ngle to leg 62 and positioned for supporting pins 56 and 57. Frame members 60 and 61 also include flange portions 64 and 65 which serve to support and guideshutter member 45.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, roller 54 is biased in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIGURE 1) by coil spring 66. Coil spring 66 is positioned within a recess 67 and has an encircling relationship with pin 56. One end of spring 66 is fixed to roller 54 and the other end is retained by leg 63 of frame member 61. This biasing of roller 54 will normally position shutter member 45 so that a major portion thereof has a winding relationship withV roller 54 and opening 15 in cover member 12 is closed by shutter 45. Rollers 54 and 55 are windable in a clockwise direction by manual manipulation of roller member 55 to move shutter member 45 to a position at which a major portion is Wound upon roller member 55 with aperture 46 aligned with opening 15.

Anti-pilferage device 44 further includes a first latch means indicated generally by numeral 68 for maintaining shutter member 45 in the open position. This latch means includes a latch member 71 having a pawl 70 engageable with a tooth or stop 69 on roller 55 for retaining roller 55 wound in the clockwise direction. Latch member 71 is pivotally supported on an oiset portion 73 lof .leg 63 of frame member 61 on pivot shaft 74 and is biased in a clockwise direction about pivot shaft 74 by spring 75 against stop 76 which is a portion of leg 63 of frame member 61.

A second latch or locking means 78, of similar construction to latch means 68 is mounted at an oifset portion 77 of leg 63 of frame member 60 and includes latch member 79, tooth 80 carried by roller 54, and spring 81. This second latch means locks shutter member 45 in the closed position, as seen in FIGURE 2, so rthat the shutter member 45 may not be moved to an open position from outside the locked token collection device.

First latch means 68 'is automatically released by trip lever 84 for permitting the closing of shutter 45 upon Withdrawal of collection device 1t) from the machine. Trip lever 84 is aixed to channel member 25 at point 85 and becomes engaged with finger 86 of latch member 71 upon insertion of collection device 10 into the controlled device through opening 27. Trip lever 84 is thus positioned for releasing latch means 68 upon removal of collection device 10 from the controlled machine. It may be seen that movement of collection device 10 toward access opening 27 effects movement of latching member 71 in a counterclockwise direction so that pawl 70 moves roller 55 a small increment in a clockwise direction until pawl 70 moves free of stop 69. The biasing of spring 66 is then permitted to rotate roller 54 in a counterclockwise direction for winding shutter 45, including aperture 46, thereon and thereby effect closing of opening 15.

Second latch means 78 is manually releasable after removal of cover 12 from collection device 10. Roller 55 may thereafter be manually rotated for winding shutter member 45 thereon to align aperture 46 with opening 15.

The operation of the anti-pilferage device and its advantages in use will be better understood by observing its relative positioning and operation through what might be considered a cycle or series of operation when used in Vconjunction with the coin or token controlled device. In FIGURE 1, it is seen that collection device 10 is securely retained within the controlled device behind locked panel 28. Anti-pilferage device 44 is latched in the open position with aperture 46 aligned with opening 15 and coin chute 16 for permitting entry of coins into collection device 10 for storage and safekeeping until removal from the machine at periodic intervals.

At these periodic intervals, the route man or serviceman may proceed as follows to remove collection device 10 from the position as shown in FIGURE 1. Key 31 is inserted in lock 30 and turned to disengage threaded portion 32 from shaft 34 and thereby permits removal 'of 'front panel 28 and permits access to collection device 10. The collection device may then be withdrawn through access opening 27. With the initial withdrawal movement, trip lever 84 will actuate latch member 71 to effect movement of shutter member 45 biased for winding about roller member 54 and closing of opening 15. Collection device 10 is thus a substantially closed device as lseen in FIGURE 3 from which coins or tokens may not be removed Without the proper key for lock 39 or without iniiicting visible damage to the box or shutter. Without shutter member 45, coins or tokens could be removed by shaking or guiding the coins out through an opening such as coin opening 15. The opening 15 could of course -be reduced in size but not to a point that coins could not be removed.

The route man or serviceman may proceed to install a second empty collection device in the machine for receiving tokens. The lock panel is replaced and the machine is thus conditioned for further operation.

The coin-containing collection devices are then delivered to the owner for opening and emptying. The owner will unlock or release the removable panel by the use of a key for lock 39 which is different from that used to unlock lock 30. Once removable cover 12 is unlocked and removed, the coins are easily emptied from container 11.

To condition the anti-pilferage device 44 for reinstallation in controlled devices, the owner will manually trip second latch means 78 to permit movement of shutter member 45. Shutter member 45 is moved to a position at which aperture 46 is aligned with opening 15 by manually rotating roller 55 on pivot pin 57 to wind a major portion of the shutter member about that roller 55. Latch member 68 will engage and retain shutter 45 in the open position.

Cover 12 is then replaced on container 11 and securely locked by lock member 39 and the empty open collection device returned to the route man for reinsertion into the machine -at a later time.

It is also noted that even without the problem of pilferage by a serviceman or route man this shutter device oler means for closing the container to prevent accidental spilling or loss of coins while moving or transporting the collection device by the owner or other authorized individuals.

It is seen from the above description that the present invention provides a novel and advantageous method of closing a coin or token collection device. It is a device which insures against the accidental loss of tokens or coins from the device and prevents pilferage of tokens or coins therefrom by a serviceman or route man.

In the drawings and specifications, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and proportion of parts, as Well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A token collection device for use with, and removable from, a token actuated machine, the combination comprising: container means including an access member, said container means having an opening through which tokens may enter; means for securing said access member; flexible shutter means juxtaposed to said opening and having an aperture selectively alignable with said opening; means for supporting said shutter means including a pair of rollers movably mounting said shutter means for movement between a first position closing said opening and a second position aligning said aperture with said opening for exposing said opening; means biasing said shutter means toward said lirst position; latching means operable upon movement of said shutter means to said second position for retaining said shutter means in said second position prior to and during periods of use with said token actuated machine to condition said container means for receiving tokens; and means for releasing said retaining means responsive to removal of said collection device from said token actuated machine for effecting movement of said shutter means under inuence of said biasing means to said first closed position.

2. A token collection device for use with, and removable from, a token actuated machine, the combination comprising: container means including a removable member having an opening through which tokens may enter; locking means for optionally securing said removable member; exible shutter means juxtaposed to said opening and movable to a first position for closing said opening and having an aperture alignable with said opening when moved to a second position; means for mounting said shutter means including a pair of rollers movably mounting said shutter means to an interior surface of said removable member for movement relative thereto, said shutter means being movable from said rst position to said second position prior to positioning of said collection device for use with said token actuated machine; latching means for retaining said shutter means in said second position and for conditioning said container means to receive tokens when positioned for use with said machine; means for effecting movement of said shutter means to said first closed position upon removal of said collection device from said token actuated machine; and means for retaining said shutter means in said first closed position subsequent to said removal of said co1- lection device and prior to release of said locking means.

3. A token collection device for use with, and removable from, a token actuated machine, the combination comprising: container means including a removable member and an opening through which tokens may enter; locking means for securing said removable member; liexible shutter means juxtaposed to said opening and having anaperture selectively alignable with said opening; means including a pair of rollers for movably mounting said Shutter means so that a portion thereof is supported contiguously to an interior surface of said container, said shutter means being biased to a first position for closing said opening and manually operable to a second position for aligning said aperture with said opening; latching means for retaining said shutter means in said second position prior to and during periods of use with said token actuated machine whereby tokens are permitted to enter into said container means subsequent to their use for actuating said machine; and means for releasing said latching means to effect movement of said shutter to said closed position upon removal of said collection device from said token actuated machine.

4. A token collection device for use with, and removable from, a token actuated machine, the combination comprising: container means including a box-like member with a removable cover, said container means having an opening through which tokens may enter; locking means for securing said cover to said box-like member; a shutter member juxtaposed to said opening and having an aperture selectively alignable with said opening in said container means; a pair of roller members; means for mounting said roller members in spaced relationship about said opening and adjacent to an interior surface of said container; means including biasing means for winding said shutter member upon one of said rollers to a first position for effectively closing said opening, said shutter member being manually windable upon the other said roller to a second position for aligning said aperture with said opening; first latch means for retaining said shutter member in said second position prior to and during periods of use with said token actuated machine; means for releasing said first latch means responsive to removal of said collection device from said token actuated machine to effect movement of said shutter to said first biased position for closing said opening; and second latch means mounted interiorly to said container means and being releasable only after removal of said removable cover for retaining said shutter member in said first closed position to prevent removal of tokens from said collection device.

5. In a token collection device as defined by claim 4 and wherein said shutter member comprises a flexible, film-like member fixed at the ends thereof to said roller members and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring member attached to one of said roller members for effective biasing thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,277 7/06 Rees 137-251 1,072,891 9/13 Whitaker 23S-15 1,258,046 3/18 Procter 232-15 2,172,554 9/39 Veale 232-15 2,426,649 9/47 Shann 232-16 2,783,937 3/57 Hudson 232-16 2,856,122 10/58 Greenwald 232-15 FOREIGN PATENTS 919,087 2/ 63 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

4. A TOKEN COLLECTION DEVICE FOR USE WITH, AND REMOVABLE FROM, A TOKEN ACTUATED MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: CONTAINER MEANS INCLUDING A BOX-LIKE MEMBER WITH A REMOVABLE COVER, SAID CONTAINER MEANS HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH TOKENS MAY ENTER; LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID COVER TO SAID BOX-LIKE MEMBER; A SHUTTER MEMBER JUXTAPOSED TO SAID OPENING AND HAVING AN APERTURE SLECTIVELY ALIGNABLE WITH SAID OPENING IN SAID CONTAINER MEANS; A PAIR OF ROLLER MEMBES; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ROLER MEMBERS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP ABOUT SAID OPENING AND ADJACENT TO AN INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER; MEANS INCLUDING BIASING MEANS FOR WINDING SAID SHUTTER MEMBER UPON ONE OF SAID ROLLERS TO A FIRST POSITION FOR EFFECTIVELY CLOSING SAID OPENING, SAID SHUTTER MEMBER BEING MANUALLY WINDABLE UPON THE OTHER SAID ROLLER TO A SECOND POSITION FOR ALIGNING SAID APERTURE WITH SAID OPENING; FIRST LATCH MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID SHUTTER MEMBER IN SAID SECOND POSITION PRIOR TO AND DURING PERIODS OF USE WITH SAID TOKEN ACTUATED MACHINE; MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID FIRST LATCH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO REMOVAL OF SAID COLLECTION DEVICE FROM SAID TOKEN ACTUATED MACHINE TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID SHUTTER TO SAID FIRST BIASED POSITION FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING; SAID SECOND LATCH MEANS MOUNTED INTERIORLY TO SAID CONTAINER MEANS AND BEING RELEASABLE ONLY AFTER REMOVAL OF SAID REMOVABLE COVRR FOR RETAINING SAID SHUTTER MEMBER IN SAID FIRST CLOSED POSITION TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF TOKENS FROM SAID COLLECTION DEVICE. 